AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – For just under an hour, Congressman Buddy Carter was on the phone talking with constituents and answering a few questions.

Throughout that time this is what came up, VA benefits and backlogs, fear of Medicare/Medicaid programs disbanding, and why this town hall was not in person.

“Are you tired of winning?” A question to open up Congressman Buddy Carter’s town hall.

Carter took the first few minutes to praise the president’s accomplishments and thank other Republicans for their support in the House of Representatives and Senate.

The Congressman brought in a special guest speaker Texas Representative Brandon Gill. Gill spoke in support of President Trump’s Deportations and echoed Congressman Carter’s Support for Executive Order 14168.

According to the moderator, there were about 10,000 people called in at the call’s highest count. During the question and answers, around 20 questions were called in.

While the Congressman could not get to every question, he ended the call by saying if your concerns were not addressed you can make an appointment through his office.

Some of the questions that were addressed include the backlog that the VA is experiencing in claims. Carter voiced his support for local veterans while also assuring them that the VA is being looked at.

The topic of social security and benefits for elderly Americans was questioned more than once but the Congressmen says there is no risk of those programs going away.

Questions involving DOGE and their role in our government were also raised. The Congressman explained that the Department of Government’s Efficiency is only an entity, they do not have any authority but instead suggest things to parts of the government that do have authority.

Last month, Republican leaders urged members of the House of Representatives not to hold town halls in their home districts.

However, the Congressman said “throughout the week I visited all communities, but we have found that his tele-town hall is the most efficient, which is what we have been talking about, an efficient way for us to communicate with our constituents. Yes, it can get out of control when you have an in-person town hall, and I have had some and we have had some problems, and the police have asked me not to do them again. So we will continue to communicate just as I have.”

He defended the question as to why his town hall was not in-person by pointing to past in-person town halls that had ended poorly. He does recognize that although there were thousands dialed in only as few were able to speak and to that he says he wanted to continue to hear from his constituents on how he can better represent them.

The Chatham County Democratic Committee released a statement regarding Congressman Carter’s Monday night town hall meeting.

“The Chatham County Democratic Committee would like to express its disappointment in Congressman Carter’s refusal to hold an in person town hall meeting. He chose to hold a tele-meeting open only to those who subscribe to his newsletter. It’s unfortunate that he chose to ignore the majority of the people he is supposed to be representing by meeting only with the chosen few. The citizens of this congressional district need leaders who will engage with their constituents, not hide from them,” wrote the Chatham Democratic Committee in a statement.

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